SOLIDWORKS vs. Vectorworks Landmark

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
SOLIDWORKS
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
Dassault Systemes offers SOLIDWORKS, a computer-aided design (CAD) system for education and manufacturing supporting 2D or 3D design, electrical design, simulations, and product development with collaboration tools.
$1,295
per year
Vectorworks Landmark
Score 10.0 out of 10
N/A
Vectorworks, headquartered in Columbia, offers the Landmark BIM design application. The solution helps users produce 2D and 3D design concepts and analyze existing building sites.
$127.50
per month
Pricing
SOLIDWORKSVectorworks Landmark
Editions & Modules
Solidworks Annual Subscription
1,295
per year
Solidworks Standard
3,996
per standalone license
Annual Subscription
$127.50
per month
Monthly Subscription
$153
per month
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
SOLIDWORKSVectorworks Landmark
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeOptional
Additional Details$153: billed monthly, 2 GB of cloud storage, Basic tech support, Immediate access to new versions $128: $1530 billed annually | Saves $306, 2 GB of cloud storage, Basic tech support, Immediate access to new versions
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
SOLIDWORKSVectorworks Landmark
Features
SOLIDWORKSVectorworks Landmark
Computer-Aided Design Software
Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of Product A and Product B
SOLIDWORKS
7.6
Ratings
7% above category average
Vectorworks Landmark
-
Ratings
3D Modeling9.20 Ratings00 Ratings
2D Drafting7.70 Ratings00 Ratings
Rendering and Visualization7.50 Ratings00 Ratings
Parametric Design6.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Collaboration and Sharing8.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Compatibility with other software and formats9.20 Ratings00 Ratings
Assembly Design7.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Simulation and Analysis7.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Documentation and Annotation7.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Customization and Extensions7.70 Ratings00 Ratings
Best Alternatives
SOLIDWORKSVectorworks Landmark
Small Businesses
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.9 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.9 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.9 out of 10
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.9 out of 10
Enterprises
Rhino
Rhino
Score 9.1 out of 10
Rhino
Rhino
Score 9.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
SOLIDWORKSVectorworks Landmark
Likelihood to Recommend
9.2
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.5
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
5.2
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
In-Person Training
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Online Training
9.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
SOLIDWORKSVectorworks Landmark
Likelihood to Recommend
As a mechanical engineer, it is one of the best tools to just start modeling and engineering with. The UI tools are intuitive and engineering analysis such Mold Analysis, FEA, are great! Other 3D CAD modeling tools have a longer learning curve to master. All in all, if you're not planning to design an entire airplane with large assembly files, then Solidworks is your tool!
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Vectorworks is just as useful for perfectly measured, hard-line CAD drawing as it is for making beautiful presentation drawings and renderings. Tools in the application allow you to transition between working drawings and presentation drawings without modifying the underlying geometry. DWG exchange with other design team members works very well
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Pros
  • The collaborative work environment is a cool and useful feature where groups of people can work on the same model at the same time, and SOLIDWORKS ensures that you don't overwrite each other's work.
  • The ease and amount of customization options are very useful for creating a personalized and intuitive user interface, whether SOLIDWORKS is your native CAD package or not.
  • It is very easy to quickly edit a model you have already created. The software allows sketch and feature editing without having to take the time to actually enter the sketch/feature environment.
  • The use of configurations and configurations-specific dimensions in the same sketch is very useful for creating different forms of the same part
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  • I tell people that Vectorworks is CAD for people who know how to draw. You can control the appearance of all the objects on a layer, or you can tweak the way a single object looks. Most of the barriers to producing good-looking, legible drawings are removed.
  • Vectorworks Landmark is made for landscape architects.Creating hardscape, planting, and irrigation plans is pretty straightforward.
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Cons
  • To date, the baked in surfacing tools lack power compared to dedicated surfacing software.
  • In a similar vein, the core modeling kernel is not owned by SOLIDWORKS themselves and so there exists limitations with regards to implementing certain modeling/math.
  • SOLIDWORKS is playing catchup to other online vendors of CAD (notable OnShape); instead of being the once leader, they are being forced to compare themselves. This, however, may work to their advantage and in turn allow them to produce a better on-line CAD tool.
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  • There's a bit of inconsistency in the operation of some tools that would appear to the user to be more similar.
  • Importing complex Revit models takes a long time and, if the model has a lot of symbols in it, the import might not finish.
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Likelihood to Renew
We have absolutely no reasons to not keep with SolidWorks for the foreseeable future.
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No answers on this topic
Usability
I have been using SOLIDWORKS for around 12 years as of writing this review, so have learned where most things are and how they work. When first starting out it was quite daunting, but the interface is well laid out with like functions near each other which made finding new functions relatively easy.
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No answers on this topic
Support Rating
We have an unusual arrangement. We don’t pay for support, but we’re partnered with a VAR for second-tier support.
I work with other users if I have questions but when we’ve had to ask the VAR, they always have answers. It appears that all of the VARs have access to a support platform from DS SOLIDWORKS that helps them answer most questions.
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No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
Onshape is a direct competitor. It has great entry level pricing and it is easy to access with no installation required. Being a web based app there is sometime some lag being based in NZ. Management also have concerns over where the data is stored on the cloud. With SW we can control where it is stored
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I was an AutoCAD user before switching to Vectorworks when coming to work with my current firm. Vectorworks Landmark includes tools specifically designed for landscape architects - it's not an AutoCAD add-on. The initial investment for a new seat is much less than AutoCAD, and the Service Select program pushes down the annual upgrade cost even more
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Return on Investment
  • Hard to answer directly. Given our customer's needs, we absolutely have to have SW to open their file types.
  • Given the relatively limited use we need at our company, it would be useful to have a cheaper option that was more stripped down but still had some capabilities. Something in-between SW and eDrawings, for example. SW is very capable and expensive, eDrawings is free and super limited. Would be nice to have a middle option.
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  • There is a learning curve for new employees, as regionally Vectorworks is not in wide use and generally not introduced in the academies
  • However, because it is more intuitive as far as WYSIWYG drawing, most people pick up the basics pretty quickly.
  • It's a really powerful suite of tools. Sometimes it's good to spend some time afforded by a larger project to explore ways to use the software more efficiently (e.g., improving worksheets, using different smart object tools, etc.)
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ScreenShots

Vectorworks Landmark Screenshots

Screenshot of Vectorworks Landmark 2025Screenshot of a geographic survey or reference point with a single operation, that helps to save time and avoid complications among collaborators. This serves both new and existing projects. Users can place a survey point anywhere in the document to specify coordinates, angles to true north, and elevation information in both 2D and 3D.Screenshot of the interface to design accurate curbs, borders, and edging elements based on profile extrudes or individual unit placement. These elements can be created as freestanding or integrated with hardscapes and landscape areas. Specify corner and insertion details and define front and back curb modifier points for terrain manipulation. Design styles improve work consistency and save time by reducing the need for revisions.